# Schrodinger Equation

1. Feb 27, 2012

### Tranquillity

I have the following Schrodinger equation:

i* (h-bar) * partial derivative of ψ(x,t) w.r.t time
=
[(m*w^2 / 2) * x^2 * ψ(x,t) ] - (1/2m) * (h-bar)^2 * (laplacian of ψ(x,t))]

m>0 is the mass
w is a positive constant

Assume that the ground state (normalizable energy eigenfunction) with the lowest possible energy E(0) is of the form

ψ(x ,t) = A * exp ((-i * E(0)*t/ (h-bar) ) - l * x^2)

A, l are constants

Use the equation to find A and l.

My try:

I know that the Scrodinger eqn can be reduced to a time - independent form which in my case would be

E * ψ (E) = { (-(h-bar)^2 / 2m )* laplacian + (m*w^2 / 2) * x^2} * ψ (E)

Then I am not sure how to proceed.

For the normalization constant I know that the integral from minus infinity to infinity of ψ(x,t)^2 = 1 by Born interpretation for the probability density.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

2. Feb 27, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
Plug the function into the Schrodinger equation. What do you get?

3. Feb 27, 2012

### Tranquillity

After substituting I am getting the relation:

E(0) = ( (-l * (h - bar)^2) / m ) + 4 * l^2 * x^2 + ( (m * w^2) / 2 ) * x^2

But after that how do I proceed?

4. Feb 27, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
E can't depend on x. E is a constant.

You need to show your work. We don't know what you did and where your mistake is if all you do is post your final result.

5. Feb 27, 2012

### Tranquillity

These are my workings, any reply will be greatly appreciated!

Wrong workings! I have to use the time dependent Schrodinger equation!!

#### Attached Files:

• ###### Workings.jpg
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25.7 KB
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108
Last edited: Feb 27, 2012
6. Feb 27, 2012

### Tranquillity

Since I am given something like a trial solution and I have to find the constant λ I worked using the time - dependent Schrodinger equation but I reach a point I don't know how to continue!

Can someone please review my work and guide me because I am really stuck at the problem?

Thank you very much!

#### Attached Files:

• ###### Workings Final.jpg
File size:
32.9 KB
Views:
104
7. Feb 27, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
Something is wrong with your work since the units don't work out. You need to find and fix your algebra mistakes. Try checking the units after each step until you find they don't work.

You should end up with some coefficient of x2 that depends on $\lambda$. For the right choice of $\lambda$, that coefficient will equal 0, so you're just left with a constant.

8. Feb 28, 2012

### Tranquillity

In my last equation if you see there is a coefficient of x^2 based on λ. I did at least three times the same calculation by hand or by Maple reaching the same equation.

Have you seen the second attachment and you find something wrong? (because my first attachment is not the way)

I don't know what goes wrong, if you can work out the calculations too I would be greatly appreciated!

In my last equation I find the coefficient of x^2 to be dependent on lamda.

9. Feb 28, 2012

### Tranquillity

I did again the calculations finding the exact same answer (as the attachment "Final Workings")

By rearranging I get E - ((E^2)/2m) - (λ * (h-bar)^2)/m) + (2 * λ^2 * x^2 * ((h-bar)^2))/m - (m*w^2 * x^2)/2 = 0

Then as you said E is constant so the terms involving x^2 must disappear.

So (2*λ^2 * (h-bar)^2) / m = m * w^2 / 2

and by a final rearrangement I get λ = (m * w) / (2 * h-bar)

And indeed λ is a constant.

What do you think?

The only thing I realised is that my equation is of the Quantum Oscillator which by some searching I did, my λ is correct.

The "problem" I find is that E(0) of Quantum Oscillator equals with h-bar * w / 2 and if I substitute E(0) in the equation I deduced, it is not satisfied.

Not sure what goes wrong, I really did the calculations many many times resulting in the same thing!

10. Feb 28, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus
How can you subtract $E^2/2m$ from E? The units don't match.

11. Feb 28, 2012

### Tranquillity

Ok I found my mistake, all this time I was using a wrong laplacian! My laplacian should be only the second partial derivative of the wavefunction w.r.t x and it shouldn't have involved the second partial derivative of the wavefunction w.r.t time!

Thanks again for the help!

Last edited: Feb 28, 2012
12. Feb 28, 2012

### vela

Staff Emeritus